Starting Methotrexate

Mar

Hi, this is the first time I have ever posted on a forum.... So here goes! I am totally devastated as my gorgeous wee 5 year old boy has recently been diagnosed with JIA and Uveitis. It all started with a swollen knee and a limp last Sept, many months and tests later he was diagnosed and had a steroid injection in his knee in Jan and a course of steroid eye drops. Very quickly he was back to normal and the Doctors said that hopefully it had gone! But in March he was off school with a nasty virus, a few days later he started to complain about pain in one wrist and one ankle! Two weeks ago he had steroid injections in these joints! He also had a big flare up in his left eye and was on a high dose of steroid eye drops and dilation drops for 2 weeks to get it under control, he is now having a lower dose and we see the specialist next Wed. Also, he is having his first weekly injection of Methotrexate next Wed! I am so worried about my wee boy having to take this drug, so frightened by the possible side effects.......this is all so sudden and very hard to accept and cope with........no child should suffer illness, the team of Doctors and Nurses looking after him are wonderful but I am struggling emotionally! Thankyou for reading my post!

[Deleted User]

Hi Mar

Welcome to the forums where I'm sure you will get a lot of help and good advice from all the lovely people on here.

It is a little quiet being the weekend, but I'm sure that someone will be along shortly to help.

We are here if you need any support to do with using the forums. Many of the mods have some of the many varieties of arthritis and we all know about the feelings that go along with having it.

Do read and post across the different topics that you will find here.
All best wishes
Christine Moderator

Pardeep

Hi mar let me know if you received my private message.


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stickywicket

Of course you are struggling emotionally, Mar. Massively so, I imagine. We would all prefer to get these nasty diseases ourselves than have to witness our little ones in pain.

I see that Pardeep has already replied to you and will be of more use than I as I do have RA myself (and have had it for 55 years) but have not had to see either my sons or grandsons having to deal with it.

No wonder you are scared of the medication. Many adult sufferers are also, some so much that they won't take it. But we have to remember that the sooner the disease is properly treated the better the outcome. Also, that potential side-effects are just that – potential. Most people will have none or few. I've been taking methotrexate for about 16 years. I sometimes have a very tired day the day after I take my methotrexate but that's about it. It does a really good job in controlling my R.A.

Arthritis affects everyone in the family, not just the person with the diagnosis. Being strong for your little boy will be both physically and emotionally draining. This forum is a fairly quiet one but the rest of us are here to support, listen and encourage each other so don't be afraid to venture onto Living With Arthritis which gets more contributors. You are living with arthritis every bit as much as we are. Please let us know how he and you get on next Wednesday.